December ends as one of least snowiest of all time

Friday, January 2, 2015

With the least snowiest December in more than 70 years, 2014 went out like a lamb after last year's endless winter created one of the year's biggest stories.

Less than an inch of snow --- 0.1 to be exact -- was recorded in central Indiana during the month just ended, the National Weather Service (NWS) reported in closing the books on 2014.

That 0.01 level ties 2014 with 1941 and 1896 for the fourth-snowiest December on record.

The least snowiest December ever was in 1889, the only year that the 12th month went without producing at least a trace of snow in central Indiana.

Just a trace of snow was all that was recorded during December 1940 and 1931, the NWS said.

Quite a difference from a year ago when 8.8 inches of snow had fallen during December en route to establishing the snowiest Hoosier winter on record with 52.2 inches of snowfall logged for winter 2013-14.

It looked as though winter might be starting early this year with 2.5 inches of snow accumulating on Nov. 16 but only another 0.1 inch was added to that month on Nov. 27.

Snow was non-existent during December across Indiana as monthly snowfall totals ranged from a trace to one inch.

All of the state received more snow during November than in December. It marked the 26th time since snowfall records began that more snow fell in November than in December at Indianapolis. The last time this occurred was in 1997.

Other than the 0.1 inches that fell on Dec. 16, the area recorded a trace of snow on six days, Dec. 2, 3, 4, 18, 19 and 24.

The mild weather pattern that began at the end of November continued nearly the entire month of December as average temperatures at all climate sites across central Indiana averaged almost two degrees (or more) above normal.

The warmest day of the month across central Indiana was on Dec. 23 when Indianapolis topped out at 55 degrees. The remainder of the holiday week remained above average before gradually cooling to below normal by the end of the month. The coldest reading of the month was nine degrees the morning of New Year's Eve.

At Indianapolis, there were 19 days with above normal average temperatures and 12 days with below normal average temperatures. December 2014 was tied for the 62nd warmest since weather records began in 1871.

For January, the average precipitation at Indianapolis is 2.66 inches, with 8.6 inches of snowfall.

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